“Fine, I'll walk.”
Bram laughed. “Sure, you know how far the movie theater is?”
“It's a simple solution, Bram. All I have to do is call Hunter and tell him to pick me up.”
Keira closed her book. “No, you won't. Humans cannot come here.”
“They can't be in the house. Hunter doesn't have to come inside.”
“Don't worry, Bram. Naomi's not going anywhere,” Keira told Bram matter-of-factly. That gave me all the more reason to want to go.
* * *
At a quarter to seven, I sat on the couch between Dorian and Josh while they stared at me.
“Would you stop?” I asked.
“You look different,” Josh said.
“You look weird,” Dorian added.
I sighed and focused on the television.
I was engrossed in a murder mystery movie with the boys, when headlights shone through the window. As I gave myself a final check in the mirror, Bram flew through the living room and out the front door.
“Bram, no!” I called, running after him. But it was too late, he was already off the porch. I followed him. Hunter stepped out of his pickup truck.
“Hey, man.” Hunter offered Bram his hand.
Bram slapped it away.
“Bram!” I cried, embarrassed.
Hunter took a step back. “What the hell is your problem?”
“You are my problem. My sister's not allowed to date, and she's not going anywhere with you. So get right back in your truck and disappear.”
Hunter looked at the house. “You're not her father. If Naomi wants to go to the movies with me, she can.”
Bram looked at me. “Tell him you're not going.”
I shook my head. Hunter grabbed my hand and led me to the other side of the truck. I felt uneasy again, knowing the danger of physical contact with the opposite sex. I climbed in, and he shut the door for me.
Bram stood back, breathing heavily. I imagined he was counting to ten like Mother advised him to do when he got angry. Hunter got back inside and backed the truck out of the driveway. Bram just stood there watching. I was surprised he had given in so easily. Surely there'd be hell to pay when I got home.
We saw a horror movie, which I found hilarious. The entire time I hoped Hunter didn't have the urge to put his arm around me. Thankfully, he didn't.
“You know, you have a real sick sense of humor,” Hunter said after the movie. “But I kind of like that.”
We drove away from the movie theater, but not toward the house.
“Where are we going?”
“A really nice place to look at the stars. Don’t worry, I'm not trying to put the moves on you.”
We rode for twenty minutes before turning down a dark road. There was nothing but one lane with trees on either side. Hunter made a right and then stopped. We got out and he helped me get onto the hood of his truck. We lay there, looking at the stars. The moon was bright enough for me to see him clearly.
“This is my thinking spot. I come here a few times a week, actually,” he admitted.
“Yeah? What do you think about?”
“Life. Where I'm going. Where I want to be.”
The moon shone so brilliantly, and I couldn't take my eyes off it. “What do you mean?”
“I'm not going to be a deadbeat like my dad. I have to make something of myself. I'm going to do whatever I have to do to take care of my mom and sisters. My mom works so hard. She has three jobs. I want to make it easier for her. I just don't want to be like him. That's my greatest fear.”
“Whatever you turn out to be, it's going to be something great.” A knot formed in my stomach then. I thought about the 148 kids who weren't going to get that chance. It didn't seem fair. “You can be anything you choose.” There was a pinch of jealousy in that statement because I didn't have that choice. I had to be a Grim whether I wanted to or not.
I wanted to ask him about Ashley. I had been sure not to tell the girls about our plans earlier. “So, you used to date Ashley?”
A sigh came from Hunter's direction. “Yeah, that was the biggest mistake I ever made.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ashley was cool and everything, but then she got crazy possessive and borderline stalkerish. I just couldn't take it. Even after we broke up, she didn't stop. It's been four months, and she still thinks I belong to her.”
“That sucks.” She had a lot of nerve trying to claim Hunter while throwing herself at my brother at the same time. I definitely didn't feel guilty about our date. Ashley didn't deserve Hunter.
“Yeah. If I were your brother, I'd be less worried about you and more worried about Ashley. Once she sinks her claws into him, she won't let go.”
I doubted Ashley would be sinking her claws into Bram.
“Anyway,” Hunter continued. “I don't know much about you, but I like that you're just chill. There's just something kind of mysterious about you.”
I looked at the moon again. Clouds had moved in front of it. I wanted to blow them away. “Hunter, I wouldn't get too attached to me.”
“Why not?”
“I-I tend to move around a lot. I won't be here very long.”
Hunter sat up slightly, resting on his elbow and looking down on me. “Well, for however long you'll be here, I'd like to get to know you. They do have phones and video chat, you know. If you move, we can always keep in touch.”
Not where I'm going, Hunter.
He touched my scythe charm.
I brushed his hand away. “You shouldn’t touch that.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
Not being able to come up with a believable lie, I shrugged.
“Isn't that the thing the Grim Reaper carries around?”
“That's a myth. There's no such thing as the Grim Reaper. Think about it. There are 106 deaths each minute. That's 6360 an hour and 152,640 a day. Do you really think one being could handle all that?”
Hunter raised one eyebrow. “Okay . . . most people don't know things like that off the top of their head. That's . . . different.”
I realized I shouldn't have said that. Death statistics were a part of Grim studies, but of course it wasn't normal for a girl to spurt them out like that.
“What made you get that?” Hunter asked.
“I just thought it was cool.”
Hunter stared at me. Please don't kiss me. Please don't kiss me. He brushed a piece of hair from my face. The feel of his warm skin on mine made me feel flushed. I grabbed his hand. I wanted him to kiss me and that scared me.
“What's wrong?” he asked. “Your hands are freezing.”
“We should get home, Hunter.”
He looked disappointed, probably thinking I didn't like him. “Fine,” he said, jumping down from the hood.
As he helped me down, I realized Keira and Bram had been right. I should have kept my distance. Caring was only going to hurt me in the long run.
Neither of us said a word on the way home. Hunter had turned the volume up on the stereo five times louder than it had been earlier. Another knot twisted my stomach as he made the turn into the driveway. I asked myself if this had been worth it. Who knew how Bram and Keira were going to act, and my date with Hunter hadn’t ended on a good note.
Hunter threw the car into park and exhaled.
I put my hand on the door handle. “Are you mad at me?”
For a few seconds, I received no response. “Not mad, just disappointed. I always seem to fall for girls who never feel the same way.”
I felt horrible. I wanted to tell Hunter that I did like him and the reason he couldn't touch me actually had nothing to do with him. “Hunter, it’s not that I don’t feel the same way. You just can’t get close to me. It’s best for everyone. I’m sorry, we probably shouldn’t have even gone out tonight.”
Just then Bram stepped out on the porch. In the glow cast from the porch light, he stood there, arms hanging at his sides, clenching his fists.
“I’
d better go,” I said quickly. I didn’t want Hunter and Bram to have any more problems.
“Night,” he mumbled.
“Good night.”
I heard his truck back out of the driveway as I made a slow procession to my brother.
I stopped at the steps and stared up at him. He jutted his chin and looked down on me.
“Did he defile you?”
“Of course not! You think I’m stupid?”
“Yes.”
“Bram, we went to see a movie and that was it. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you look so sad?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sad.”
Bram shook his head. “You’ve known him for less than a week and you like him.”
I brushed past him and went inside.
The house was quiet. Grims never stayed up very late. Collecting lives was a full-time job that allowed for no rest or sleep, even when our Fated nodded off. We had to get all the sleep we could get when we could.
Up in our bedroom, Keira was asleep, curled into a ball in the center of the bed so there was no room for me. She had probably done it on purpose. I grabbed my pillow and a blanket from the linen closet and slept on the couch in the living room.
Chapter 18
Sunday morning, we piled into the car to go to breakfast. Bram took us to a pancake place. We squeezed into a booth and looked over the menu. Neither Bram nor Keira had spoken to me the entire morning. A waitress came over and took our order. I ordered French toast and orange juice.
“Will you two just say something instead of ignoring me like children?” I asked once the waitress had gone.
“I have nothing to say to you,” Keira replied.
“Ditto,” Bram said, looking out of the window.
I gave up. I didn’t think I had done anything that was so terrible, but nothing was worth having my best friend and brother mad at me. “Listen, I’m sorry. You guys were right, and I was wrong.”
“Fine,” Keira said. “But you need to understand we have rules for a reason. We’re only looking out for the good of everyone.”
Bram said nothing.
“Anyway,” Keira continued. “We need to keep our eyes open. Focus on the kids who could be responsible for this. We don’t have much time.”
“Good,” Dorian said.
“Everything okay, Dorian?” I asked.
He shrugged. “It is what it is. We won’t be here long.”
“Just keep your head in the game,” Bram said again. I was tired of him saying that.
* * *
Monday came, and I was not excited about school. I didn’t want to see Hunter. It would be awkward. I also didn’t want to see Ashley. Surely she had heard about our date.
“Hey, Naomi,” said a high-pitched voice.
I cringed. I wasn’t in the mood for Morgan. “Hey, Morgan.”
She was wearing all purple today. “So, I see you survived your first week. Need anything?”
“No, Morgan. I’m just fine, thanks.” I slammed my locker shut.
I spotted Hunter farther down the hallway. We made eye contact, and then he turned and headed the other way. I wanted to follow him—to make things right. We couldn’t date, but there was really no reason we couldn’t be friends, or at least cordial.
“Morgan, I have to go. See you around.”
She looked disappointed. “Sure. I’m here if you need anything. Did I give you my cell?”
“Yeah,” I lied. “I’ll definitely call you if I have any questions,” I said, backing away.
I walked briskly down the hallway, weaving in and out of groups of kids. I spotted Bram leaning against the wall, with Ashley talking his ear off. She rolled her eyes at me, and I returned the expression.
Hunter disappeared into the boy's bathroom. I'd have to talk to him later. I headed reluctantly for my first-period class. My mind drifted as Ms. G. lectured about the Constitution.
A girl entered class late and handed Ms. G. a yellow slip. It wouldn’t have been such a big deal if she hadn’t been glowing.
“I saw another one,” I told Keira during second period.
“I saw five in the hallway,” Keira said. “I want you to eat lunch with me today. I think I might have a lead.”
I nodded. She and Bram were right. Although I liked Roxy and Paige, I was wasting my time hanging out with them.
“Meet me at the picnic tables farthest from the school,” Keira said, then Mr. Bertelli yelled at us for talking.
* * *
“How was your date?” Roxy asked as we changed for PE. “I hope it was worth it. Ashley’s pissed.”
“It wasn’t worth it, and I really don’t care how Ashley feels.” Really, what was she going to do to me?
Roxy and Paige exchanged surprised glances.
Ashley came in and ignored me. I was fine with that. After PE, the girls headed for the cafeteria.
“I’ll catch up with you guys later,” I said.
“Where are you going, Casper?” Roxy asked.
“I just have something to do.” I went on my way before they could ask any questions.
I followed Keira’s directions to the picnic tables. They were far away from the school—past the bleachers and the baseball diamond.
There were twelve kids, including Keira. They fell silent and stared as I approached. Keira sat on one of the tables, talking to a guy, while another girl examined the silver studs on Keira’s leather boots.
She finally looked over in my direction. “Hi, Nay. Everyone, this is my friend Naomi.”
Everyone nodded and went back to what they were doing. Keira stood and led me over to an empty seat at the end of the table.
“Nay, this is Fox and Lem,” she said, motioning toward two boys sitting across from us. They both had several face piercings, and they wore black lipstick and dog collars. They nodded toward me.
“So what’d you do to get sentenced to this hellhole?” Lem asked.
“Nothing. My dad’s job got transferred. Why do you call it a hellhole?” I asked.
“How long have you been here?” Fox asked.
“A week.”
“Then you should know.”
Keira was smart for sitting with these guys. They seemed to hate school, but most kids probably felt that way. It didn’t mean they were in on planning the massacre. Still, we needed to learn more. Keira and I exchanged glances.
“It seems okay to me,” I said. “I’ve met some nice kids.”
Fox scoffed. “Please, you haven’t been here long enough. Give it some time. The ones you think are your friends will stab you in the back eventually. All you have to do is breathe the wrong way, and you’ll be an outcast.”
“Oh.” I nodded.
Lem squinted at me. “I’ve seen you around. You were hanging out with Roxy and them.”
“So, you noticed?”
Lem nodded. “Yeah, you don’t exactly . . . blend in. I mean, I’m pale, but you and your brothers—I don’t know what the word is for it. You're pretty, though. That's why they let you hang out with them.”
I had never seen Lem before, so I found it strange that he had observed me and known about my brothers.
“Roxy used to be cool,” Lem continued. “But not anymore.”
“She seems nice,” I said quietly.
“Trust me, if those girls can’t mold you into being just like them, you’re out,” Lem advised. They're bitches. But you'll find out soon enough.”
I felt uncomfortable because I liked Roxy and Paige. “Well, it was nice meeting you guys, but I need to go grab something to eat.” I stood and slid my backpack onto my shoulders.
Keira followed me as I left. “So, what do you think?” she asked after we were a decent distance away from the table.
“I think we’d be smart to stick with them.”
Once inside the building, Roxy grabbed my arm without warning, pulling me away from Keira
. I hadn’t even noticed her approach. “Meet me by my car after school. West parking lot. Dance team practice was cancelled today. We’re hanging out at my place.”
Before I could respond, she was gone.
* * *
After school, I found Dorian at his locker, putting books away. “Dorian, tell Bram I’m going home with some friends.”
He looked at me nervously. “What? Where are—”
“Just tell him. I’ll see you later.”
I found Roxy’s red convertible in the west parking lot, as she had instructed me to. She and Paige were already in the car with the top down.
“Hop in, Casper!” Roxy yelled as she cranked the radio.
I climbed inside, hoping we would pull off before Bram saw me. Roxy stepped on the gas, and we squealed out of the parking lot. She didn’t drive much better than Bram, but I enjoyed the wind blowing through my hair.
It was less than a five-minute drive to Roxy’s. She lived in a two-story mint green–and–white house with a perfectly manicured lawn. There were no other cars in the driveway, so I figured no one else was home.
On the way upstairs, we stopped in the kitchen. Roxy handed me a bag of tortilla chips and a bag of cheese puffs. She handed Paige three glasses, and Roxy carried a two-liter bottle of Coke herself.
Roxy’s room was bright—really, really bright. Fuchsia-painted walls with black-and-white furniture and accessories. We plopped on the bed, and Roxy turned on the same blaring music that had irritated my eardrums on the way over. My dislike of the music must have shown on my face, because she turned it off.
“Cas, what kind of music do you like to listen to?”
I thought for a moment. I'd memorized a list of popular artists, but I couldn't remember any of their songs, so I opted to be honest. “Bach, Beethoven, Mozart.”
The girls looked at each other and then burst into giggles.
“You are definitely a homeschooled kid,” Paige said.
Thankfully, Roxy didn’t turn the music back on. She threw herself across the bed in front of me and Paige. “Let’s get to the good stuff. What happened between you and Hunter? I asked him this morning, and he said ‘No comment.’”
Naomi Grim: The Final Breath Chronicles Book One Page 11
